Method of and apparatus for eliminating sharp edges and corners on toy blocks



June 12, 1923.

Filed June 14 1920 -A. SMITH METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING: SHARP EDGES AND CORNERS 0N TOY BLOCK.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v im- E MT:- I

June 12,1923; 1,458,733

A. SMITH I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SHARP EDGES AND CORKQERS ON TQY BLOCKS Filed June 14, 1920' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 12, 1923. 1,458,733

A. SMITH METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SHARP EDGES AND CORNERS ON TOY BLOCKS Filed June 14, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 12, 1923.

A. SMITH METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SHARP EDGES AND CORNERS ON TOY BLOCKS V 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 14, 1920 June 12, 1923. 1,458,733

A. SMITH METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SHARP EDGES AND CORNERS ON TOY BLOCKS Filed June 14. 1920 s sheets-sheet 5 Patented June 12, 1923.

ANDREW SMITH, or. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, assrenoa Tommie Paon e'rs comma! OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

'Mnrrionor AND APPARATUS FOB ELIMINATING SHARP linens AND CORNERS on I TOY BLOCKS.

Application filed June 14,

To all 1!;2 am 2'2 may concern:

Be it known that ANDREW SMlTH, .a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateo'i' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lniprovements in Methods of and Apparatus for Eliminating Sharp Edges and Corners on Toy Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to method of 'and apparatus for eliminating sharp edges and corners on toy blocks more particularly to wood blocks ofprismatic shape, for example of the shape of a cube. The wood in the rough is'first put through'certain preliminary sawing and planing operations, where by a strip having its four straight grained or longitudinal edges rounded lS'Obt3.l118d,fltl18 strips being substantially square in cross-section except for the rounded edges, if cubical blocks are tobe made.- These strips'are then sent to a gang saw and cut into blocks. The fuzz due tosawing operation is then re moved, which may be done in several ways, for example,by tumbling the blocks for a fewminut'es in a revolving container.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel method of eliminating the sharp edges and corners on the blocks after they have been passed through the preliminary operations mentioned, which preferably consists'in passing the blocks successively through sets of rollers a-daptedto bear upon the edges thereof, the plane "of each successives'et being substantially at right'angles to that of the preceding set of rollers, thereby compressing and rounding the eight cross grained for transverse sharp edges, also to a certain extent the corners, and then gripping and squeezing the eightcorners of theblock between suitable dies to further round the same. Vhile I prefer, as a matter of economy in manufacturing, to eliminate the sharp longitudinal or straight grained edges of the blocks duringsaid preliminary operations, it 'willbe underfiood that these sharp edgesmay also be eliminated by the method mentioned by passing the blocks through an additional set of rollers. AJfurther object of my invention is to provide" novel apparatus for carrying outthe various steps of the method mentioned whereby large quantities of the finished blocks maybe-turned out ina relatively companying drawings wherein:

1920. Serial No. 388,842;

short period of time and ,with a minimum amount of labor. Y

I "Furtherobjects ofthe invention are toprov de automatic means forcarryingand guicllng the blocks through the, various sets v of rollers and 'into position between the dies for further rounding the corners and, to provide means whereby the relative positions of the rollers and the guidingaelementsi may be chan ratus to blocks of difi'erent size:

ged. to, accommodat'eitheappa-f :f; v 05. I have also discoveredthat the sharp edges and corners on a block "of the class described I army beeliminated by. positioning 'the;block between suitabledies and then grippingand squeezing. the. edges-and, "corners thereof, whereby thesame are compressedandround- 1 ed. .Preferablythe longitudinalior straight 7 grain sharp eclgesare eliminated by passingtlie block through the" preliminary .oper- I ations mentioned. 'Certainof the appendedclaims ccverthe method of and apparatus for eliminating the sharp edges .and corners-- in this manner. v.

The

invention consists in" the. novel. methods to be hereinafter described andv claimed "for eliminatingthe, sharpfedgesalid corners on a block .of the class described and claimed, for carrying out the ,above stated- ;in thenovel constructions, arrangements andi i devlces, to be hereuiai'ter descr bed and. r

objectsand suchoth'er objects as will appearfrom the following, description of the acpreferred embodiments illustrated in Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatusemvie'wstaken on th e lines 44=, 5 5,6 5 and 1 7+7 respectively; of Fig. 3. P

Fig. 8"is aidetailed viewshowing the means employed fonpreventing a --block, which has just been'pushed'out either-dies, from being caught'therebetweenwhen,theyf 'f close upon the succeeding'block,

J: one of the dies Fig.9 isua iace view of shown in Fig; 8." 1 Fig.: 10 isa sectional 10-10 of Fig. 9.,

viewtakenQoIi line Fig. 11 is a perspective viewof a block after having passed through the necessary planing and sawing operations hereinbefore verse edges rounded.

I Fig. 1a: is a perspective view of the block after having passed through the die for rounding the corners thereof.

Fig. 15 is a face view of a modified form of die designed to eliminate the sharp edges and corners on a block in one operation, and

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the finished block in the die shown in Fig. 15.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

After the blocks have been preliminarily operated upon as hereinbefore described, they are inspected and placed by hand on a conveyor belt 20 operating over a table 20*, care being taken to place the blocks so that the grain thereof runs transversely of the belt. The blocks are delivered by the belt 20 into a vertical chute 21 through which they drop by gravity into the path of a horizontally arranged plunger 22 secured .to a cross-head 23 slidably mounted on horizontal guide rods Ql which are secured to the framework of the apparatus. The blocks are pushed by the plunger 22 one by one through the set of rollers designated generally by the reference numeral 25 and into the path of a vertically arranged plunger 26 secured to a cross-head 27 slidably mounted on vertical guiderods 28 also secured to the framework of the apparatus. The plunger 26 forces the blocks one by one through a second set of rollers designated generally by the reference numeral 29 and into a vertical passageway 30 through which they pass by gravity into the path of another horizontally arranged plunger 31 which is attached to the crosshead The plunger 31 forces the blocks 'one by one into position. between the dies 32 and 33 which are operated by a toggle arrangementdesignated generally by the reference numeral The blocks are pushed from between the dies into a horizontal passageway (Fig. 8) from which they may be delivered to suitable conveyor (not shown).

The drive shaft 36 of the apparatus niay be connected directly to a source of power (not shown) by a pulley 37 or driven from a shaft 38 .of an associated machine (not shown), for example, a machine for printing matter on the blocks, by the spiral gears 39 and i0. A. power wheel a1 is secured to the shaft 36 to which the cross-heads 23 and 9.7 are connected by the respective'links l2 and 43. A bell crank 44 is pivoted at 15 to the framework of the apparatus, the horizontal arm. 46 of which is connected by links l7 to the toggle arrangement 34. The lower end of the vertical arm 48 of the bell crank projects into a socket 4.9 formed in the crosshead The arms 50 of the toggle are pivoted at 51 to a stationary part- 52 of the framework, and are each provided with a tooth 53 which meshes, respectively, with the teeth 5st of the horizontally sliding members 55.

The dies 32 and shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 10 are secured to the sliding members by screws 56, these dies being formed with annular concave surfaces 32 and 33 respectively which are adapted to bear upon, compress and round the eight corners of the block when it is positioned between them and they are moved toward each other by the toggle arrangement. In Fig. 8 l have shown means to cause a block which has ust been pushed from between the dies to assume a position whereby it will not be caught therebetween when they close upon the succeeding block. The die 38 is chamfered or beveled at 57 and the die 82 is chamfered or beveled at 58, as shown, the surface 58 being at a sharper angle relative to the plane of the dies than that of the surface 57. The left hand side of the passageway 35 is cut away at 59 to permit the block to be pushed sidewise. The block 60 is pushed from between the dies by the succeeding block 61 and as the dies close upon the block 61 the surface 58, since it is at a sharper angle relative to the plane of the dies than the surface 57, engages and pushes the block 60 into the position shown.

The roller sets 25 and 29 are identical in construction and are illustrated in detail in Figs. 1- to 6. Each set preferably comprises two pairs of rollers 62 which are mounted on bolts 63 secured in parallel a rrangement in bearing blocks 64 adjustably mounted on plates vided with horizontal portions ,66 adapted to bear upon the top or bottom of a block, and with flange portions 67 adapted to bear against the sides of the block. The circumferential corners between the horizontal and flanged portions are billeted to provide a concave surface 68 adapted to bear upon the edges of the block whereby the sharp edges of the block are eliminated by being compressed and rounded. The bearing blocks 6e are provided with perforations 69 adapted to receive the bolts 63 and with threaded recesses 70 adapted to receive the screws 71 which extend through radial slots 72 formed in the plates 65. By adjusting the relative positions of the screws 71 in the slots and tightening or loosening the nuts on the bolts 63 the dis- The rollers are pro 1,458,733. f I v 8 tance between the rollers may be changed" to accommodate blocks of different sizes. The bearing blocks on adjacent ends are preferably provided with lugs 73 perforated for the reception. of cap screws 74. -The bolts 63 cooperating with the screws 71 effectively prevent the rollersof one pair from spreading apartand the screws 74 also cooperating with the screws 71 effectively prevent the opposing pairs of rollers from spreading apart. A spring 75 may be interposed between the rollers of each pair to normally hold them againstthe adjacent bearing blocks.

' The various passageways through which the blocks travel in passing through the apparatus are substantially identical in construction and are preferably made adjustable to accommodate blocks of different sizes. The construction employed, for example, is illustrated in detail in Fig. 7 The side members 76 and 77 are adjustably mounted on threaded studs 78 secured to the frameworkof the apparatus. The passageway is completed by mounting the guide strips 79 on the studs 78 between. the side members 76 and 77 The strips 79 are provided with transversely extending slots 80 which permit the necessary vertical adjustments to be made to accommodate the pas-,

sageway to blocks of different sizes. A relatively stiff spring 81 is interposed between the strips 79 which in cooperation with the nuts 82 on the studs 78 permits lateral adjustments of the side members 76 and 77. Each set of rollers is provided with strips 83 toguide the blocks .as they are forced through between the rollers. These strips are secured to angle brackets 84, which are secured to the plate 65, by screws 85, each bracket having a slot '86 which permits the necessary relative adjustments to accommodate blocks of different sizes. The plates 65 are slidably mounted in V-sha-ped grooves 87 formed in the framework and are secured therein by the set screws 88, this arrangement permitting convenient removal of the plates and free access to the various devices attached thereto'when it is desired to make adjustments.

Operation.

transverse grained, sharpedges are com-' pressed and rounded, the plane of the rollers of one set being: atsub'stantially right angles to that 'of' the other; [After leaving the second set of rollers they fall into the path of the plunger 31 and are thereby pushed into'position between the dies 32 and 33 which grip the block by itsv eight corners and further compress and round the same. Assuming the power wheel 41 is in the position .shown in Fig. 1, when it moves 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow the plunger 22 and'the cross head 23 will be at the end of theirforward'excursion. When the cross head is inthis position the arm 46 of the'bell. crank 414:IS

in its highest position with theresult that the dies 32 and 33 are in their extreme open position which permits a block to be'moved thedies are brought to bear upon the cor-v ners of the block therebetween' and the plungers 22 and 31 are withdrawn sufl5- cientlyto permit the blocks from-the respective, passageways 21 and 30 to drop in front of them ready to be pushed forward on the next forwardexcursion. In Fig. 11 I have shown a block asit is fed to' the machine, the four longitudinal. or

straight grain sharp edges a, a having'been eliminated by the preliminary planing operation; In Fig. 12 I have shown the block after it has been passed throughth'e first set of rollers the four horizontal sharp transverse grain edges '6, .7), having been elimi nated. In'Fig. 13 I- have shown the block after it has beenpassed through the second set of rollers, the remaining; four vertical sharp transverse grain edges 0, c,"having been eliminated. In F g.1 l I have shown the block after it has'been subjected to the a ction of the dies, the four corners (Z, d, having been further compressed and rounded.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I have shown one of a pair of dies 89 adapted to eliminate the sharp edges andccorne'rs on a block in one operation, making it unnecessary "to pass the blocks through the twosets of rollers. These dies are each formedwith a square recess 90, the corners. between the bottom of the recess and its walls being bille'te'd to provide concave bearing surfaces 91' adapted to bear upon the sharp edges and cornersofa block placed therebetween when the dies are moved toward each other. These dies may be se-.

cured to a toggle arrangement and the blocks &

pushed into position therebetween by mechanism operating in the manner of that shown in the preceding figures. The blocks are passed through the preliminary operations described to eliminate the sharp longitudinal grain edges and are then positioned between the dies with the transverse grain faces toward the dies, whereupon the eight sharp transverse grain edges and corners are compressed and rounded when the surfaces 91 are brought to bear upon these edges and corners.

It will be obvious that modifications of various kinds may be made in the constructions, arrangements and devices without departing from the principles of my invention. I do not limit the invention therefore to the constructions, arrangements and devices herein described except only in so far as certain of the appended claims are specifically so limited.

Iclaim:

1. The method of eliminating sharp edges on a block which comprises pass ng the block successively through sets of rollers adapted to compress its edges with non parallel faces of the block successively in the lead.

2. The method of eliminatii'ig sharp edges on a. block which comprises passing the block successively through sets of rollers adapted to compress its edges with no1uparallel faces of the block successively in the lead, and then passing the block between pressure applying parts for further rounding the corners.

3. Method of eliminating sharp edges on a bl ck of the class described which consists in taking a block which has been. preliminarily operated upon to round two parallel edges on two opposite sides, and passing it through one set of rollers and then at substantially right angles through another set of rollers, said rollers being adapted to bear upon the edges of the block, whereby the eight remaining edges thereof are com-- pressed and rounded.

l. Method of eliminating sharp edges on a block of the class described which consists in taking a block which has been pre liminarily operated upon to round its four straight grain edges, and passing it through one set of rollers and then at substantially right angles through another set of rollers, said rollers being adapted to bear upon the edges of the block whereby the transverse grain edges are compressed and rounded.

5. Method of eliminating sharp edges on a block of the class described which consists in taking a block which has been preliminarily operated upon to round its four straightgrain edges, and passing it horizontally through one set of rollers and then vertically through another set of rollers, said rollers being adapted to bear upon the edges of the block, whereby the transverse grain edges are compressed and rounded.

6. Method of eliminating sharp edges and corners on a block of the class described which consists in taking a block which has beenpreliminarily operated upon to round its four straight grain edges, passing it through one set ofrollers and then at, substantially right angles through another set of rollers, said rollers being adapted to bear upon the edges of the block, whereby the transverse grain edges are compressed, and rounded, and then gripping and squeezing the eight corners of the block between dies to further round the corners.

7. Method of eliminating sharp edges and corners on block of the class described which consists in'talring a block which has been preliminarily operated upon to round its four straight grain edges, passing it horizontally through one set of rollers and then vertically through another set of rollers, said rollers being adapted to bear upon the edges. of the block, whereby the transverse gram edges are compressed and rounded, and then gripping and squeezing the eight corners of the block between dies to further round the corners.

8. Method 01': eliminating the sharp edges on a block of the class described which consists in taking a block which has been preliminarily operated upon to round two parallel edges'on two opposite sides, and grip ping and squeezing the eight remaining edges thereof between two dies thereby rounding those edges. I V

9. Method of eliminating the sharp edges on a block of the class describedwhich consists in taking a block wnicn has been preliminarily operated upon to round its four straight grain edges, and gripping and squeezing the eight transverse grain edges between two dies thereby rounding those edges.

10. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted to bear upon the edges of the blocks as they are passed between the rollers there by compressing and rounding the same, each successive set of rollers being at substantially right angles to the preceding set of rollers, and means to convey the blocks through the successive sets of rollers without turning the blocks and with different facesof the blocks successively in the lead.

11. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges and corners on blocks of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted to bear upon :the edges and corners of the blocks as they are passed between the rollers thereby compressing and rounding the same, each successive set of rollers being at substantially right angles ion to the precedin set of rollers, means for conveying the bl sets of rollers without turning the blocks and with different faces of the blocks successively in the lead, dies adapted to bear upon the corners of the blocks and further compress and round the same, and means to convey the blocks from the last set of rollers and p ositionthem between the dies.

12. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class described which have been preliminarily operated upon to. round two parallel edges on opposite sides comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in two sets and adapted to bear upon the'sharp edges ot'the blocks asthey are passedbetween the rollers thereby compressing and rounding the same, one set of rollers being in a vertical and the other in a horizontal :plane, and means to force the blocks horizontally into one set and then without turn- I .ing' the blocks to force them vertically through the other set of rollers.

' 13. Appaa'atus for eliminating sharpedges and corners onhlocks of the class described which have been preliminarily operated upon to round two parallel edges on opposite sides, comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in two setsand adapted to bear upon the sharp edges and corners of the blocks as they are passed between the rollers thereby compressing and rounding the same, dies adapted to bear upon the corners of the blocksand further compress and round the same, and means to convey the blocks su cessively between the two sets of rollerswith non-parallel faces successively in the lead and then to position the blocksbetween the dies. 4o

14:. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted to bear upon thev edges of the blocks as they are passed between them thereby compressing and rounding the same, plungersadapted to force the blocks between the rollers of each set, and means. connecting said plungersio a source of power. 7

15. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks or" the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted to bear upon the edges of the blocks as they are passed between them thereby compressing and rounding the same, recip- .rocating plungers adapted to force the blocks between the rollers-of each set, and means connecting said plungers to a source of power. a

16. Apparatus for: eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class described comprising aplurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted to bear upon the-edges of the blocks as they are passed between them, thereby compressing and rounding the same, each successive set of rollers being at subocks through the successive stantially rightangles to the preceding set,

plungers adapted to force the blocks between the rollers of each se t,.,andmeans a source of power.

. 18. Apparatus for eliminatingnsharp edges on blocks of the class described which have! been. preliminarily operated. upon to a round the four straight grain edges comprising a pluralityof. rollers arranged in two sets and adapted to bear upon the edges of the blocks as they are passed between them, thereby compressing and rounding the same, one set of rollersibeing in'a vertical and the other in a horizontal plane, plun- :gers adapted to force the blocks between the rollers of each set, and means connecting said plungers to a source of power.

19. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted to bear upon the edges of the blocks as they are passed between them thereby compressing and rounding the same,

- a plunger'associated with eachset, the plunger of each set being at an angle to the line of travel ofthe block through the next preceding set and means connecting said plungers to a source of power, whereby the plungers are reciprocated and the blocks pushed one by one through the several sets of rollers with non-parallel faces leading.

20. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks'of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted tobear upon the edges of the blocks as they are passed between them thereby compressing and rounding the same,

a reciprocating cross head associated with each set of rollers, aplunger secured toeach of said cross heads, and. means connecting vsaid cross heads to a source'of power, said plungers being positioned at right angles to each other whereby the blocks are advancedby the several faces leading.

21. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class "described cornprising a plurality of rollers arrangedin plungers wit-hnon-parallel sets and adapted to bear upon the edges v of the blocks as they are passed between" them thereby compressing andfirounding the same, guidlngmeans for the blocks associated. wit-h each set of rollers, plungers movable at an angle to each other associated with said guiding means, and means connecting said plungers to a source of power whereby the plungers are reciprocated and the blocks pushed through the several sets of rollers with non-parallel faces leading.

' 22. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets and adapted to bear upon the edges of the blocks as they are passed between them thereby compressing androunding the same, guiding means forthe blocks associated with each set of rollers, plungers movable at an angle to each other associated with said guiding means, and means connecting said plungers to a source of power whereby the plungers are reciprocated and the blocks pushed through the several sets of rollers with non-parallel faces leading, the rollers of each set and said guiding means being adjustable to accommodate blocks of diflerent' sizes.

23; Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges and corners on blocks of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets at an angle to each other and adapted to bear upon. the edges and corners as the blocks arepassed'between them thereby compressing and rounding the same, dies adapted to bear upon the corners of the blocks and further compress and round the same, a plunger associated with each set of rollers and said dies, and means connecting said plungers to a source of power whereby the plungers force the blocks between the rollers of each set with non-parallel faces in the lead and position them between the dies.

24. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges and corners on blocks of the class described comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets at an angle to each other and adapted to bear upon the edges and corners as the blocks are passed between them thereby compressing and rounding the same, dies adapted to bear upon the corners of the blocks and further compress and round the same, a reciprocating plunger associated with each set of rollers and said dies, and means connecting said plungers to a source of power whereby the plungers force the blocks between the rollers ofeach set with non-parallel faces in the lead and position them between the dies;

Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges and corners on blocks ofthe class described comprising a plurality ofrollers arranged in sets at an angle to each otherand adapted to bear uponthe edges and corners as the blocksare passed between them thereby compressing and rounding the same, dies adapted to bear upon the corners of the blocks and further compress and round'the same, means adapted to open and close said dies, a plunger associatedwith each set of rollers and dies, and means connecting said die controlling means and said plungers to a source of power whereby the plungers force the blocks between the rollers of each set with nonparallel faces successively in the lead and position them between the guides.

26. Apparatus for eliminating sharp edges on blocks of the class described which have been preliminarily operated upon to round two parallel edges on opposite sides comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in two sets at right angles to each other and adapted to bear upon the sharp edges of the block as they are passed between the rollers thereby compressing and rounding the same. dies adapted to bear upon the corners of the blocks and further compress and round the same, means adapted to open and close said dies, a cross head associated with each set of rollers, meansconnectingsaid cross heads with a source of power, means connecting said die controlling means with one of said cross heads, and means associated with said cross head whereby the blocks are forced between the rollers of each set with nonparallel faces successively in the lead and positioned between the dies.

27. Apparatusforeliminating sharp edges and corners on blocks of'the class described which have been preliminarily operated upon to round two parallel edges on oppositcsides comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in two sets and adapted to bear upon the sharp edges of the blocks as they are passed between the'roll'ers thereby compressing and rounding the same, one set of rollers being in a vertical plane and the other in a horizontal plane, dies adapted to bear upon the corners of. the blocks and further compress and round the same, means adapted to open and close said dies, hori- Zontally and vertically operating crossheads associated with the respective sets of rollers, means connecting said cross-heads with a source of power, means connecting said die controlling means with the horizontally operating cross-head, and means associated with said crossheads whereby the blocks are forced between the rollers of each set and positioned between the dies.

28. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a pair of dies each having concave surfaces adaptedto bear upon the corners of blocks of the class described, means adapted to open'and close said dies, means adapted to position the blocks one by one between saididies, and means adapted to cause a block which has'been pushed from between the diesto assume a position whereby it will not be caught therebetween when they close upon the'succeeding block.

29'. In apparatus of the class -describe d'the 1,458,733 v r g '7 with said dies adapted'to cause a block which has been pushed from between the dies to assume a position whereby it will not be caught therebetween when they close upon the succeeding block.

30. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a pair of dies each having concave surfaces adapted ,to bear upon the corners of blocks of the class described, means adapted to open and close said dies by one between said dies, said dies being cha-mfered to provide bearing surfaces one of which is of greater'angularity than the other relative to the plane of the'dies for the purpose described.

31. Apparatus of the class describedcomprising a pair of dies having concave surfaces adapted to bear upon the corners of blocks of the class described, a toggle ar-- rangement associated with said dies and adapted to open and close the same, a reciprocatingvmember, a bellcrank one arm of which is connected to saidtoggle arrangement. and the other to said reciprocating member, and means associated with said reciprocating member adapted to position the V blocks between the dies.

32. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a supporting member, a pair of rollers mounted thereon, said rollers having concave surfaces in spaced, relation adapted to bear upon thesharp edges of a block of the class described when it is passed between them, and means positioned between the concave surfaces of said rollers for guiding the block between the rollers.

In apparatus of the class described the combination of a-supporting member, a pair of bolts parallelly mounted thereon, a pair of rollers mounted on each of said bolts, said rollers having surfaces adapted to bear upon the sharp edges of a block of the class described whenit is'passed between.

them for applying pressure to said edges, and means associated with sald supporting member and located between the several pairs of rollers adapted to guide the blocks therebebolts may be changed to accommodate blocks of different sizes.

35. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a supporting member having radial slots formed therein, bearing blocks secured to'said member by means slidable in said slots, a pair of bolts mounted in said block,-and a pair of rollers mounted on'each of said bolts having surfaces adapted to bear upon thesharp edges of a block of the class described when it is passed between them.

36. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a supporting member having radial slots'formed therein, bearing blocks secured to said member by means and means adapted to position the blocks one slidable in" certain of said slots, a pair of bolts mounted in said blocks, a pair of rollers passed between them, brackets secured tosaid member by means 'slidable in the other slots, and guide members secured to "said brackets. a V v y 37. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a supporting. member having radial slots, formed therein, bearing blocks secured to said member by means slidable in said slots, a pair of boltsextending. longitudinally of said memberand mounted in said -blocks, a pair of rollers mounted on each of said jbolts having surfaces adapted to bear upon the sharp edges of a block of the class described when it is passed between them, and means adapted to .holdsaid bearing blocks against spreading apart transversely.

38 prising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets, each set being mounted adjustably with respect to each other on a suppor'ting Inem her which is slid'ably mounted. in the apparatus, said rollers having surfaces adapted to bear upon the edges of the blocks as'they' Apparatus ofthe class described 'com I are passedbetween the vrollers thereby compressing and rounding the same, and means adapted to force the blocks between the rollers.

I 39. Apparatusof the class described, comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in sets, the rollers of each set being mounted if adjustably with respect to each other on a supporting member, said rollers having sur-' faces adapted to bear on the sharp edges ofablock of the class described when itqis passed between vthem,

adapted to guide the blocks to and from each set of rollers, and means to force the blocks 7 through each set of rollers, said guiding members being adjustable relative to each guiding members otherwherebv blocks of difi'erent sizes may be accommodated. v

ANDREW sMrrHQ I 

